Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.834 Narrated by Muslim

We were with Masruq at the house of Yasar bin Numair. Masruq saw pictures on his terrace and said, "I heard 'Abdullah saying that he heard the Prophet (saws) saying, "The people who will receive the severest punishment from Allah will be the picture makers.' "

After reading this please explain me where do I stand. I am a graphic designer. I design Posters, Brochures. which requires me to edit/create Photos etc. What is the stand for a Photographer also. In a way he too is a picture maker. In Today's era, photography is the most common and popular business industry. Comment!

Brther in Islam

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Graphic designer

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Beloved brother in Islam, the majority of scholars in Islam are of the opinion that photography is not the same as picture-maker or the term used in Arabic ‘musawwir’, because photography is actually capturing a mirror image or exact copy of what Allah Subhanah Himself has created. A picture or portrait maker is one who draws an animate object himself and that is quite different from capturing a mirror image or exact copy of what Allah Subhanah has created.

The majority of the scholars in Islam are of the opinion that there is no harm in photography, but drawing portraits and pictures of animate objects is absolutely forbidden.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan